Hebrews 7:27
Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
Original Language Analysis
ὃς
Who
G3739
ὃς
Who
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
1 of 26
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
ἔχει
needeth
G2192
ἔχει
needeth
Strong's:
G2192
Word #:
3 of 26
to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or conditio
καθ'
daily
G2596
καθ'
daily
Strong's:
G2596
Word #:
4 of 26
(prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined)
ἡμέραν
G2250
ἡμέραν
Strong's:
G2250
Word #:
5 of 26
day, i.e., (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the jews as inclusive of
ἀνάγκην
G318
ἀνάγκην
Strong's:
G318
Word #:
6 of 26
constraint (literally or figuratively); by implication, distress
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
8 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀρχιερεῖς
those high priests
G749
ἀρχιερεῖς
those high priests
Strong's:
G749
Word #:
9 of 26
the high-priest (literally, of the jews; typically, christ); by extension a chief priest
ὑπὲρ
for
G5228
ὑπὲρ
for
Strong's:
G5228
Word #:
11 of 26
"over", i.e., (with the genitive case) of place, above, beyond, across, or causal, for the sake of, instead, regarding; with the accusative case super
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
12 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἰδίων
his own
G2398
ἰδίων
his own
Strong's:
G2398
Word #:
13 of 26
pertaining to self, i.e., one's own; by implication, private or separate
θυσίας
sacrifice
G2378
θυσίας
sacrifice
Strong's:
G2378
Word #:
15 of 26
sacrifice (the act or the victim, literally or figuratively)
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
18 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
19 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
λαοῦ·
for the people's
G2992
λαοῦ·
for the people's
Strong's:
G2992
Word #:
20 of 26
a people (in general; thus differing from g1218, which denotes one's own populace)
γὰρ
for
G1063
γὰρ
for
Strong's:
G1063
Word #:
22 of 26
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
ἐποίησεν
he did
G4160
ἐποίησεν
he did
Strong's:
G4160
Word #:
23 of 26
to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)
Cross References
Hebrews 9:12Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.Hebrews 9:28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.Hebrews 9:14How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?Ephesians 5:2And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.Hebrews 5:3And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.Romans 6:10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.Titus 2:14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.Hebrews 9:25Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;Leviticus 16:11And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself:Hebrews 9:7But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
Historical Context
Daily sacrifices were offered in the temple morning and evening (Exodus 29:38-42), and the high priest offered special sacrifices on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16). Christ's single sacrifice accomplished what endless animal sacrifices couldn't.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the 'once for all' nature of Christ's sacrifice affect your understanding of ongoing sin and forgiveness?
- What practices or attitudes suggest you're trying to add to Christ's finished work?
Analysis & Commentary
Unlike high priests who must daily offer sacrifices 'first for His own sins and then for the people's,' Jesus did this 'once for all when He offered up Himself.' The Greek 'ephapax' (once for all) emphasizes the unrepeatable finality of Christ's sacrifice. His sinlessness eliminated need for self-atonement; His perfect sacrifice eliminated need for repetition. Reformed theology emphasizes Christ's finished work - nothing needs adding to His completed atonement.